BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         H.B. 839
                                                By: Denny (Brown)
                                                    State Affairs
                                                         03-30-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Section 144, Article 6701d, V.T.C.S., regulates the amount that
municipalities with a population under 5,000 may retain from
traffic fines.  Municipalities may retain revenue from traffic
fines equal to 30 percent of total city revenue from the prior
year.  After a city has retained that amount, any portion of a
traffic fine that exceeds $1 must be remitted to the state. 
Currently, money collected as a "special expense" is not included
in the 30 percent revenue limitation.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 839 imposes a limitation on the amount of special
expenses that certain municipalities may retain from the amount
collected in certain court proceedings.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 144(b), Article 6701d, V.T.C.S., to
authorize a municipality to retain, from fines collected for
violation of any highway law as set forth in this Act and from
special expenses collected under Article 45.54, Code of Criminal
Procedure, in cases in which such violation is alleged, an amount
equal to 30 percent of the municipality's revenue for the preceding
fiscal year from all sources.  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.